Newsletter

Around the region: Nassau County pauses to remember Judge Burgess

NASSAU

County pauses to remember Judge BurgessMonday’s regularly scheduled County Commission meeting is set to be rescheduled until next Monday so that county officials and the community can pay their respects to the late Granville C. “Doc” Burgess, who died Thursday night. Burgess, 63, was a longtime prosecutor who was elected a Nassau County judge in 2006 and ran unopposed this year. A viewing will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Oxley-Heard Funeral Home, 1305 Atlantic Ave in Fernandina Beach. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, 9 N. Sixth St. in Fernandina Beach.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH

Mayor outlines his prioritiesNew Mayor Charlie Latham has hit the ground running. He recently held a workshop to outline his priorities for the council and seek those of other council members and the public. Latham’s, in order, are: reducing crime and vagrancy; developing pro-business initiatives; reviewing the use of low-speed vehicles; paid versus non-paid parking; resolving pension issues; bringing more family-oriented activities downtown; and developing a master plan 5, 10 and 20 years out. He also suggested having a Facebook page to post various events.

CLAY

Penney Farms to seat new councilTwo incumbents and a newcomer will take their seats on the Penney Farms Town Council without an election. None had opposition, so town officials canceled the election set for Tuesday. Beginning Jan. 15, incumbents Thomas DeVille and Paul Bue, and newcomer Adrian Andrews will serve two-year terms. The five-member council also will reorganize, selecting its mayor and vice mayor that day.

FERNANDINA BEACH

Navy, city renew helicopter agreementNavy helicopters flying for the past five years over the city’s municipal airport will continue to operate on a peaceful, purposely quiet mission. A recently renewed agreement between the city and the Navy will allow the military to use the airport for training exercises through December 2017. The helicopters are based at Mayport Naval Station and Jacksonville Naval Air Station. The Navy uses the western part of the airport to cut down on the noise. For more about the airport, go to www.fbfl.us.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH

Golf tourney for autismThe Valley of Dreams Gala and Golf Classic to benefit the Ponte Vedra Beach-based nonprofit HEAL Foundation (Healing Every Autistic Life) will begin Monday with the gala from 6 to 9 p.m. and end Tuesday with the Bobby Weed-Deane Beman Golf Classic at TPC Sawgrass. Beman, a former PGA Tour commissioner, and his wife, Judy, will serve as honorary chairs. For more, go to www.healautismnow.org.

VILANO BEACH

Water taxi service launchedGet around in style with a new water taxi service between the Vilano Beach Public Dock at the Pier, Camachee Cove (Kingfish Grill) and the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. Jax Water Tours offers the service from Vilano Beach every two hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Add 20 minutes for departures from Camachee and 40 more minutes for departures from St. Augustine. The cost is $5 ($3 for ages 5 and under) one way. Contact (904) 714-8172 or www.jaxwatertours.com.